When you were a young girl, did you
Have a ragged dog,
The only dog you ever owned?
You can treat me the way you used to treat that
Ragged dog;
But hurry up, 'cause I'm gettin' old
And I get older, baby,
Day by day,
And it get's stronger, baby,
Let me say,
And it goes deeper, baby,
Than you'll ever know
Stand back, baby,
And watch my love grow

And do I love you? My, oh my
River deep, mountain high
If I lost you, would I cry?
Bet your life, baby!
Baby, baby!
Baby, baby!
Baby, baby!

When you were a young girl, did you
Have a puppy
That always followed you around?
You can treat me the way you used to treat that
Puppy, baby;
I swear I'll never put you down
No, I won't,
And I get thankful, baby,
In every way,
And it gets less painful, baby,
Let me say,
And I'm gonna love you
Every night and day
Look out, baby;
My love is comin' your way
Yes it is

And do I love you? My, oh my
River deep, mountain high
If I lost you, would I cry?
Bet your life, baby!
Baby, baby!
Baby, baby!
Baby, baby!

I love you, baby,
Like a flower needs a spring
I love you, baby,
Like Aretha Franklin needs to sing,
And I love you, baby,
Like a schoolboy loves his party, yeah,
And I love you baby,River deep mountain high

I want to take ya higher (higher)
I want to take ya higher (higher)
I want to take ya higher (higher)
Get on with me, babe (higher)
Give it to me, babe (higher)
All I need is some (higher)
Give it up, baby (higher)
Give it up, baby (higher)
Wow! (higher)
Wow! (higher)
Get it up (higher)
Get it up (higher)
Get it up (higher)

When you were a young girl, did you
Have a puppy
That always followed you around?
[howling]
In favor of that puppy, baby,
I swear I'll never never never put you down
No, I'll never put you down
It gets stronger, baby,
Every day, yeah.
And it goes deeper, baby,
Let me say, Yes, it does,
And I'm gonna love you
Every night and day and night and night
Look out, baby;
My love is comin' your way, yeah

And do I love you? My, oh my, oh my
The river is deep, and the mountain's
Waaayyyyyyy too high
If I lost you, would I cry?
Give it to me, baby!
Baby, baby!
Baby, baby!
Baby, baby!